10.08.2009 Winners of the first-ever EU Prize for Literature announced

The names of the twelve winners of the first‑ever EU Prize for Literature have been announced (read the press release about the prize here). The aim of the prize is to spotlight the creativity and extensive variety of contemporary European literature. A consortium including the European Commission, the European Booksellers Federation (EBF), the European Writers’ Council (EWC) and the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) launched the prize and announced the first twelve participating countries. 

Each year from 2009 to 2011, eleven or twelve EU Member States will nominate authors for the prize. The participating countries this year are France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Lithuania, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden. The Netherlands will take part in 2011. 

In addition to the prize, each year, a well-known author will be appointed ‘European Ambassador for Literature’. The Ambassador for the first year is the bestselling Swedish author Henning Mankell.

The winners will receive the prize during a ceremony held in Brussels on 28 September, which will be attended by José Manuel Barroso (President of the European Commission) and Ján Figel’ (Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth).

Winners of the first‑ever EU Prize for Literature include:

• Paulus Hochgatterer (Austria – Die Süβe des Lebens)
• Emmanuelle Pagano (France - Les Adolescents troglodytes)
• Karen Gillece (Ireland – Longshore Drift)
• Jacek Dukaj (Poland - LÓD)

To read the complete press release, click here.